Tell us a bit about yourself?

In 2012, I completed my undergraduate training in a university in Nigeria and proceeded to undergo the mandatory one-year course to obtain my certificate of Call to the Nigerian Bar, the qualification needed to speak in court. In 2015, I secured a job at one of Nigeria’s top law firms. My work revolved around advising foreign organisations on setting up, employment, protection of intellectual property, regulatory compliance, administration and governance in general. I was also an in-house expert in providing responses to the World Bank on the ease of doing business in Nigeria as well as a facilitator in providing legal advice to businesses on matters across registration, compliance and taxation among other services in Nigeria’s commercial city. This was a role which required in-depth research and understanding of regulatory compliance and challenges.

Although I have been intensely involved in providing legal solutions to organisations, I was equally fascinated by the concept and spectrum of corporate governance. Therefore, in order to advance my career prospects and specialisation, I realised there was the need to enhance my knowledge and skills in the field. This informed my decision to study the course.

What has been the highlight of your course experience?

The course has made me realise that the role of the company secretary in an organisation goes beyond the basics. It involves high level management. The governance professional/company secretary is key to the success of a company, as it behoves on the professional to advise the directors of their duties, compliance, risk management and ensure decisions taken are in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The highlights of the course so far has been the unique learning experience offered by my tutors which has resulted in the ability to develop many of the industry specific skills I require in my work and a whole new level of thinking in general. The interactive classes have also made me more confident in public speaking and as such, I see myself achieving even more in the future. I have also been able to hone my research skills and effective risk management. The rich range of modules, such as interpreting financial and accounting information, risk management, governance, leadership and strategy as well as board dynamics, have been invaluable.

How has the course helped you to utilise your previous experiences and skills?

The course has helped in enhancing my previous experience in so many ways as I have developed a more robust theoretical understanding of corporate governance frameworks. I've learned about the codes of best practices as it relates to an organisation’s governance structure, decision-making, regulatory compliance, managing risk and board reporting. This is towards ensuring that the board of an organisation is equipped with sufficient information before reaching a decision. I am even better equipped in assisting a company in implementing good governance practices and also towards ensuring they comply with the code of best practice.

Furthermore, I have learned more about the expected best practice in effectively leading a company, accountability and transparency as well as developing strategies for long term sustainability. This learning has emphasised and complemented my previous skills and has allowed me to integrate my knowledge to get a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the principles of governance in stakeholder engagements, decision-making and ethics.

Can you tell us about any practical opportunities to apply your learning?

This for me would be the case studies that we did in class, which formed a portion of my assessment in boardroom dynamics. From my review of the governance practices of a real company, I was better able to understand governance practices in general, and how they are applied in the real world. Working on my case study and analysing a company's decisions helped in developing my own skills, as well as understanding the implications of bad decision-making in a company’s overall performance.

How has the course helped your own professional skills development?

This would be in the area of decision-making and general board responsibilities. There has been a significant enhancement of my understanding of decision-making, board culture, strategy as well as ensuring the board is abreast of their responsibilities and not working under the assumption that they know. It has also enhanced my ability to effectively assess risk and risk-management, as well as implementing best corporate practices in a company.

Furthermore, it has provided me with a framework to assess situations from a compliance perspective, which will enable me to contribute effectively in strategic decisions as well as grow a broader implication of these choices within the corporate context.

Would you recommend this course to others?

I would recommend this course due to the diversity and rich range of subjects, as well as the opportunity to be taught by highly qualified faculty members. Leeds Beckett University has a reputation of excellence and has tailored the content of this course towards relevant aspects functional in the corporate environment. Every practical course gives one the verve of an actual corporate task within a company.

The icing on the cake is that one will not only learn theory, but there are so many avenues to build and apply your critical thinking skills towards cases and issues. You gain insights into the governance frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability by organisations. There is also the opportunity to understand effective boardroom dynamics and sustainable business practices, documentation procedures, corporate law, interpreting financial and accounting information and company secretaryship. Overall, the course and delivery is an excellent learning experience.

What are your plans for the future?

Upon completion of the course, I am hoping to be employed by an organisation or charity as a governance professional hopefully in a senior position. This is so I can apply the knowledge acquired so far by providing valuable insights, recommendations and support which will result in the success of the said organisation.